Primary/Elementary, Middle & High School UK Year to US Grade (2024)

FAQs

What is the US equivalent of UK school years? ›

Universities may have different methods of converting your UK grades and calculating your individual GPA scores. For instance, in some cases, the conversion is calculated as follows: +70% = A = 4.0 GPA. 60-69% = B = 3.3-3.9 GPA.

In America, we say students are in 7th Grade while British students of the same age are in Year 8. They are labeled a higher number in comparison to the US because we call the first formal year of school Kindergarten in America, which is the equivalent to Year 1 in England.

British equivalent

In England, the year of school that is the same age as 3rd Grade is Year 4, which is the fourth year of compulsory education.

What is a Grade 7, 8 and 9? Low Grade 7 is equivalent to a low Grade A. | Grade 8 is equivalent to a high Grade A. | Grade 9 is equivalent to higher than a Grade A*.

Grade 9 is the highest grade. Ofqual's GCSE grading diagrams outline the changes and also provide some useful guide for parents.

Achieving a first-class degree is a significant academic accomplishment in UK universities. It means that you have obtained an overall score of 70% or higher in your undergraduate degree, which is equivalent to an A grade.

It's difficult to say whether the British education system is harder than the American education system because both systems have their own unique challenges and strengths. In the UK, there is a strong emphasis on independent learning and critical thinking, with a heavier focus on exams and a more narrow subject focus.

What is high school called in the UK? ›

Secondary school, also called high school or senior school, is for children between the ages of 11-16, and will take the student through year 7 to 11, as they complete Key Stage 3 and 4.

The American curriculum tends to cover a wider range of topics, including more courses in the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. The British curriculum places more emphasis on core subjects like math, science, and English, with less emphasis on electives and interdisciplinary courses.

A 3.3 GPA is a strong GPA, falling within the range of the top 25-30% of students. But it may not guarantee admission to highly selective colleges. Admissions committees consider many factors when making their decisions, including GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendations, and essays.

To understand the UK grading system vs the US better, remember this: the United Kingdom uses letter grades, but not in the same way that the United States does. In the UK, an A is anything above 70%, rather than each letter representing 10%. And each letter after that represents a 10% reduction.

Seventh grade (also 7th Grade or Grade 7) is the seventh year of formal or compulsory education. The seventh grade is typically the first, second or third year of middle school. In the United States, children in seventh grade are usually around 12–13 years old.

Year 7 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England, Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is the seventh full year (or eighth in Australia and England) of compulsory education and is roughly equivalent to grade 6 in the United States and Canada (or to grade 7 for the Australian Year 7).

Education in the US

In the US, most children attend some kind of part-time preschool, but state-provided education does not begin until Kindergarten (equivalent to Year 1 in the UK), and, in many districts, Kindergarten is still offered part-time.

In the US system, less emphasis is placed on examinations and students study general subjects until the end of high school, which is Grade 12, the UK equivalent of Year 13. In the United States, most children attend preschool part-time, but state-provided education does not start until Kindergarten (Year 1 in the UK).